厚朴及澤瀉抗動脈粥狀硬化之研究

吳介信
中國醫藥學
因高血脂所引起的粥狀動脈硬化伴隨著血管狹窄，一直以來被認為是造成冠狀動脈疾病的主要病因，所以降低血中脂肪應可有效的來預防心血管疾病。曾經有相當多的人力和物力投入在研發降低血脂的藥物，然而至今具有高效力之降脂藥卻仍是少數。我們已知被氧化的低密度脂蛋白是導致粥狀動脈硬化的主因之一，倘若我們能夠發展出既能預防低密度脂蛋白氧化或是增加低密度脂蛋白代謝的藥物，那麼粥狀動脈硬化就能夠有效的被控制住。

來治療心臟血管疾病；然而他們大部分的分子作用機轉仍是未知。如果我們能將這一作用機轉給釐清，那麼這些中藥抽取物在粥狀動脈硬化中所扮演的角色就能更清楚的定位。

由於氧化的低密度脂蛋白在粥狀動脈硬化形成中扮演一個重要的角色，而氧化這一脂蛋白的過氧化離子會被超氧歧化酵素(Superoxide Dismutase, SOD)給清除掉，所以Magnolol的抗氧化作用很可能是經由增加超氧歧化酵素的基因表達而引起的。又因為低密度脂蛋白接受器是負責低密度脂蛋白的清除，所以我們認為澤瀉之降血脂作用可能是藉由增加低密度脂蛋白接受器的數量而達到的。一旦以分子生物的科學方法來定位出其藥理作用，則對於這些抽取物在預防粥狀動脈硬化或是降低膽固醇的研究上，應有更進一步的認識。

關鍵字：粥狀動脈硬化、超氧歧化酵素、厚朴(Magnolol)、澤瀉

The antiatherogenic effects of Magnolol and Alismatis Rhizoma

Chieh-Hsi Wu
China Medical College
The etiology of coronary artery disease has been attributed to atherosclerosis, accompanied by hyperlipidemia and narrowing of vascular lumen. Extensive efforts have been exerted to lower the blood lipid level; however, only very few effective agents developed up to date. It has been well documented that oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) contributed largely to atherogenesis. If remedies can be developed either to inhibit the oxidation of LDL or to increase the LDL metabolism or both, atherosclerosis may then be well controlled.

Several herbal extracts, including cholesterol lowering agents Alismatis Rhizoma, and antioxidants Magnolol have been identified to be effective for cardiovascular diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms of many of them still remain unclear. Exploration of their molecular mechanisms may be useful to identify their roles in cholesterol-related diseases, like atherosclerosis. 

Oxidized LDL are known to be a main factor involved in the proces
關鍵字：Atherosclerosis; superoxide dismutase; Magnolol; Alismatis Rhizoma